Skip to Main Content

MLB Player News

  • Donovan Solano 1B | TEX

    Yankees' Donovan Solano: Signs minor league deal with Yankees

    Solano agreed to a minor league deal with the Yankees on Tuesday.

    Solano elected free agency following the 2016 season but is now set to return to the Yankees organization for the upcoming campaign after signing a contract that includes an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old spent most of 2016 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he slashed .319/.349/.436. Although he did make his way up to the majors, Solano's numbers at the plate didn't translate as he went just 5-for-22 (.227) over nine games.

  • Jeff Malm 1B | TB

    Rangers' Jeff Malm: Signs minor league contract with Rangers

    Malm signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on Monday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.

    The southpaw put up impressive numbers between High-A and Double-A in 2016, recording a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeout across 48.0 innings. It's only his third year pitching, after being drafted as a first baseman and corner outfielder and making the transition to pitcher in 2015.

  • Tommy Joseph 1B | TEX

    Phillies' Tommy Joseph: Fully recovered from wrist injury

    Joseph is fully recovered from the wrist tendinitis that forced him to cut his stint in the Dominican winter league short this offseason, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

    Joseph remains on track to open this season as the Phillies' regular first baseman. He said his goal this season is to improve his on-base percentage after he posted a .308 OBP in 2016 while splitting time at first base with Ryan Howard. Joseph already showed some signs of improvement last season. He walked at a 3.7 percent clip in the first half, but improved that to 8.6 percent while also cutting his strikeout rate from 24.7 percent to 18.9 percent after the All-Star break. He has 30-plus homer upside this season with everyday playing time.

  • Josh Bell DH | MIN

    Pirates' Josh Bell: Reports to camp 23 pounds lighter

    Bell reported to minicamp at 225 pounds, down from 248 at the beginning of spring training last season, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

    Bell credited yoga for his weight loss. The 24-year-old hit .273 in 152 plate appearances last season, splitting time between first base and the outfield, though the focus seems to be on using him at first this season. Defense has always been one thing that has been a knock on Bell, but the Pirates will hope his participation in yoga and weight loss will increase his ability in the field, which could result in more consistent playing time.

  • Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE

    Angels' Kole Calhoun: Inks three-year contract extension

    Calhoun (core muscle injury) signed a three-year, $26 million contract extension with the Angels on Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

    The contract extension buys Calhoun out of his remaining three years of arbitration, and includes a $14 million player option for 2020, when he would become a free agent for the first time. The Angels have struggled to surround Mike Trout with quality complementary bats in recent seasons, but Calhoun is one of the few exceptions. Though he saw an eight-homer reduction from the 26 he slugged in 2015, Calhoun didn't surrender any power, as his ISO held steady last season, while his .271/.348/.438 slash line represented an improvement in each area. The 29-year-old was also a picture of durability, missing five games or less for the second year in a row. Calhoun is still recovering from offseason surgery to address a core muscle injury, but he's expected to be ready to go for spring training.

  • Pirates' Joey Terdoslavich: Signs minor league contract with Pirates

    Terdoslavich agreed to a minor league contract with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

    The deal includes an invitation to spring training for the switch-hitting Terdoslavich, who spent last season in the Baltimore system. The 28-year-old last played in the majors with Atlanta in 2015, hitting .214 over 28 games. Terdoslavich batted .246 last season with Double-A Bowie while adding 61 RBI. He will likely serve as organizational depth for the Pirates.

  • Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE

    Angels' Kole Calhoun: Avoids arbitration

    Calhoun (abdomen) agreed to a one-year, $6.35 million contract with the Angels on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

    Calhoun's home run total fell back into the teens last year, but his hard-hit (35.3 percent) and flyball (39.9) rates suggest a return to 20-plus homers is possible, if not likely. Further, he greatly improved his strikeout and walk rates, which would seem to give him a higher batting average floor moving forward. The 29-year-old underwent surgery in October to repair a bilateral core muscle injury but is expected to be 100 percent for spring training.

  • Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE

    Phillies' Rhys Hoskins: Invited to spring training

    The Phillies have invited Hoskins to spring training, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

    Hoskins is expected to open the season at Triple-A, but will get a chance to make an impression in camp this spring after hitting .281 with 38 home runs and a .943 OPS in 135 games at Double-A Reading in 2016. He could get a look in the majors later this year if Tommy Joseph fails to build on his solid debut from last season.

  • Matt Hague 1B | WAS

    Twins' Matt Hague: Returns to USA on minor league deal with Twins

    Hague signed a minor league contract with the Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

    The 31-year-old spent 2016 in Japan, but after only producing a .685 OPS with the Hanshin Tigers, Hague decided to come back stateside to play. He's only a year removed from being the International League MVP, so he could be a cheap source of power if he can translate any of that Triple-A success to the big leagues this spring.

  • Indians' Chris Colabello: Signs minor league deal with Indians

    Colabello signed a minor league deal, which includes a spring training invite, with the Indians on Tuesday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

    The 33-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Blue Jays organization, but he appeared in only 10 games for the big league club in 2016, due in part to serving an 80-game PED suspension. In 45 minor league contests, mostly at Triple-A, Colabello compiled a meager .185/.254/.293 slash line with 12 RBI and 51 strikeouts. Expectations will be low for Colabello, but the Indians will hope he can regain the form that saw him hit .321 with 54 RBI in 101 major league games in 2015.

Around the Web Promoted by Taboola